Merrell Fankhauser
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Merrell Fankhauser – I Saw Your Photograph
Biography
Louisville, United States (23 December 1943 – present)
Merrell Wayne Fankhauser (b 23 December 1943, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s with bands including The Impacts, Exiles, Fapardokly, HMS Bounty, Fankhauser-Cassidy Band, and Mu.
After moving to San Luis Obispo, California in his teens, he began playing guitar, and got his first break playing in movie theaters and talent shows. In 1960, after one of these shows, he joined a local band called The Impacts as lead guitarist. Their Ventures-influenced sound developed a strong following at the start of the surfing scene. In 1962 they recorded an album which was later released, without the band’s knowledge, by Del-Fi Records, and which included a tune “Wipe Out” which Fankhauser suggests later provided the (uncredited) basis of the hit by the Surfaris, although his view is contested.
Fankhauser left the band and moved to inland Lancaster. There he met Jeff Cotton (later of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band), and in 1964 they formed The Exiles. The band - which also included John “Drumbo” French - had some regional success with songs including “Can’t We Get Along”, but then broke up. Fankhauser moved back to the coast, formed a new band, Merrell and the Xiles, and had a minor hit with “Tomorrow’s Girl” in 1967. An album followed which including both old Exiles songs and newer psych folk material.
After moving to San Luis Obispo, California in his teens, he began playing guitar, and got his first break playing in movie theaters and talent shows. In 1960, after one of these shows, he joined a local band called The Impacts as lead guitarist. Their Ventures-influenced sound developed a strong following at the start of the surfing scene. In 1962 they recorded an album which was later released, without the band’s knowledge, by Del-Fi Records, and which included a tune “Wipe Out” which Fankhauser suggests later provided the (uncredited) basis of the hit by the Surfaris, although his view is contested.
Fankhauser left the band and moved to inland Lancaster. There he met Jeff Cotton (later of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band), and in 1964 they formed The Exiles. The band - which also included John “Drumbo” French - had some regional success with songs including “Can’t We Get Along”, but then broke up. Fankhauser moved back to the coast, formed a new band, Merrell and the Xiles, and had a minor hit with “Tomorrow’s Girl” in 1967. An album followed which including both old Exiles songs and newer psych folk material.
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